Disposable brush



B. ZABEL DISPOSABLE BRUSH May 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12,1952 INVENTOR. R N 13 3 1 I r, 4 I ATTORN May 10, 1955 B, Z' BEL2,707,793

DISPOSABLE BRUSH Filed Feb. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 1}:(2"8H'VVENT0R. BRUNO b35121,

ATTORNEY United States Patent DISPOSABLE BRUSH Bruno Zabel, Feura Bush,N. Y.; Mathilda C. Zabel, administratrix of said Bruno Zabel, deceased,assignor of one-half to Vincent Spinosa, Delmar, N. Y.

Application February 12, 1952, Serial No. 271,116

7 Claims. (Cl. -226) This invention relates to brushes and moreparticularly to small inexpensive brushes for use by barbers and thelike and which may be discarded after a single use.

It is customary in barber shops and beauty parlors for the operator touse a powdered dusting hair-brush for removing short hair clippings anddusting the neck and face of the customer. It has long been recognizedthat it is unsanitary to use the same brush on more than one customerand it is impractical and costly to provide a suificient number ofdusting hairbrushes to have a sterilized hairbrush for each customer. Asa matter of fact many localities have laws prohibiting the use of thesame brush on more than one customer and requiring its re-sterilizationbefore use on each customer. Therefore, there have been many attempts toproduce a small throw-away brush that is sufficiently inexpensive topermit the use of a new brush with each customer.

Many considerations have entered into the problem of providing suchdisposable brushes and among them are (1) the expense factor which mustbe exceedingly low, (2) the manner afforded by such brushes for thepackag ing and dispensing of them which must not only be inexpensive butafford that degree of sanitation which not only meets the requirementsof the laws but which may exceed such requirements whenever possible,and (3) the effectiveness of the article as a brush for the purposes ofremoving hair clippings from the human skin. Concerning the latterconsideration alone, it has been found that soft tissue paper, arrangedin a plurality of superimposed layers and having deeply shredded edgesproducing long tongue-like bristles, is the most effective and suitablefor the purpose of removing hair clippings because heavier paperproduces hard and rough bristles, even when a single sheet or layer ofpaper is used, and is objectionable not only to the feel of the customerbut it is not efficient for removing hair clippings clinging to thehuman body. Consequently, it is a desideratum of the present inventionas to the manner of handling and securing a plurality of layers ofsheets of paper together in order that they may be dispensed Withoutdifficulty and with ease and still be within the sanitary and economiclimits for practical commercial use.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide avery inexpensive disposable brush for use in barber shops, beautyparlors and the like to brush and dust away hair clippings and the likefrom the neck and face of a customer and to provide a brush which isconvenient to handle and to use and which does the work for which it isintended efliciently and in a satisfactory manner and with comfort tothe customer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a brush of the characterstated and which is so inexpensive that it is practical to confine theuse of each brush to one customer only and then to throw the brush away.

Another object of this invention is to provide a brush of the characterdescribed and which may be made very inexpensively and quickly in largequantities.

A further object of this invention is to provide a brush 2,707,793Patented May 1-0, 1955 of the character described and which may bepackaged in quantities quickly and inexpensively and to provide simpleand inexpensive packaging of the brushes in such a way that they may beremoved easily, quickly and conveniently one at a time for use andwhereby the brushes are maintained in sanitary conditions and thoroughlyshielded from dust, dirt and other contamination while in the packages.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessingthe features, properties, and the relation of elements which will beexemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the claims.

In accordance with this invention, the brush comprises a plurality ofsuperimposed pieces of soft flexible paper out into disc form or intofan shape, the plurality of superimposed pieces being locked together atthe centers of the discs or at the apexes of the superimposed fan shapedpieces. Preferably, the means whereby the superimposed sheets are lockedtogether, provides a grip element which may be grasped by a personsfingers and whereby the brush may be easily and conveniently lifted andhandled.

throughout its area and each of the disc shaped pieces is shredded forsome distance radially inwardly from the periphery and the fan shapedpieces are shredded radially inwardly from some distance from the curvedouter edge. The shredding is preferably effected by slitting the pieceswith slits of uneven length and preferably with longer slits alternatingwith slits of shorter length.

To form a brush, a bunch of locked together pieces is grasped at thefinger-grip element at the apex and the shredded periphery of the bunchbeing gathered together to form the bristles of the brush. This may beaccomplished easily by grasping the finger-grip element of a bunchbetween the thumb and forefinger of one hand and then drawing the bunchbetween the thumb and forefinger of the other hand while heldannular-like. Also, in accordance with this invention, a quantity ofthese brushes in flat condition may be stacked one upon the other in asuitable container having an opening at the top through which thefinger-grip element of the top brush may be grasped easily andconveniently to lift the top brush from the stack for use. If desired adisposable separate neck band shield may be associated with the brushesin the stack in such a way that one of the neck band shieldsmay beremoved from the container with each brush.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the inventionreference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a single piece of paper cut into disc form withits periphery shredded and a fingergrip at the center and from which abrush may be formed; I

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 but shows a modification of the finger grip;

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 1 except it represents a plurality.

of brush pieces locked together at the center;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the locked together bunch of brush piecesshown in Fig. 3 and is taken on the line paper locked together at'theapex and shredded where r the edge is curved;

Fig. 8 is an end view of the same looking toward the apex of the brush;

Fig. 9 is a plan view partly broken away of a plurality of disc shapedbrushes stacked in a container .having a lid which is shown open;

Fig. 10 is a view of the same with a part of one of'the side walls ofthe container broken away to show the stack of brushes therein;

Fig. '11 is a .perspective view of a brush in the process of beingdeformed into cone shape;

Fig. 12 'is a perspective view of the brush in final shape for use;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of fan shaped brushes stacked in a containerhaving an opening at the top and a lid which is shown in fragment andopen; and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side view of a container with a portion of aside wall broken away to illustrate the alternate stacking of paperneck-bands and brushes therein.

'Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,, and 6made-up blanks 10 from which the disposable brush may be formed, theblanks being cut, preferably, in disc-like form from thin soft fiatsheets of paper,

such as tissue paper or the'like, and the peripheral portion of thesediscs being shredded deeply about their peripheries by radial slits,such as 11 and 12, for a distance of half or more of their radii, whichproduce long narrow radial tongues '13 about the disc edges. nate slits,such as 12, are preferably shorter than the adjacent slits, such as 11to prevent easy tearing of the tongues at the bases or roots. Figs. 1and 2 illustrate blanks from one sheet or thickness of paper, whileFigs.

3, 4, -S, and 6 illustrate blanks made up of a plurality of superimposeddiscs substantially concentrically arranged and forming, what may betermed, a brush bunch B.

In Figs. 1, '3, and 4, a tab 14 is struck-up from the center of the discor discs to provide a finger-grip element which may be grasped in apersons fingers and whereby the disc or bunch of discs may be lifted andhandled. In Figs. 2, 5, and 6, instead of the finger-grip being providedby a struck-up tab, the finger-grip in the form of a relatively fiatannular cap 15 is provided and the center 16 of the disc is punched orcompressed into this cap to secure the disc to a surface of the cap 15.

Preferably, with either modification of finger-grips, a plurality of thediscs are superimposed one on the other;

and, in the first mentioned modification, the tabs 14 are stuck-uptogether so as to be interlocked and to lock the discs together at thecenter while, in the other modification, the center portions 16 of theplurality of discs are stuck or punched-up together into the hollow ofthe annulus 15 so as to be interlocked and to lock the plurality ofdiscs together. Alsofin each modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and in5 and 6, an outermost disc, such as 100, may be of somewhat heaviertexture than the next disc, such as 1015 and whatever additional discsthere are in the bunch, to aid in permitting the easier separation ofthe uppermost bunch from a stack of brush bunches when said uppermosthunch is lifted from the stack. It has been found that, when brushbunches are of tissue of the desirably light-weight paper and stacked incontiguous relation, the lifting of the uppermost bunch will cause theadjacent bunch to be lifted also, under certain conditions; whereas, ifthe adjacent brush bunches of the same weight of tissue-paper haveinterposed between them a layer of paper of slightly heavier weight, thelifting of the uppermost bunch does not bring the next adjacent bunchalong with it. Furthermore, when the fiat bunch is deformed to form abrush, the heavier weight paper tends to distribute the shreds of thelighter weight paper and hold them in brush form. It is optional as tohow many separate discs are superimposed and locked together to Asshown, alterform a brush bunch and, while a single disc may serve as abrush when properly shaped, two or more discs are preferable fordesirable results. A bunch consisting of four discs of light tissue ofabout .003 pound and an outer disc of heavier paper of about .003 poundlocked together has been found to be satisfactory and this isrecommended because of the saving of material and the consequentreduction in cost.

The single discs or the bunches of locked together discs may becontinuously stacked in a suitable box or carton 20, which may havea=hinged cover 21, permitting access to the top disc or bunches of discsstacked in the box. When the discs having finger tabs 14 are stacked,the tabs will be flattened down backwardly so as to be readily andeasily grasped by a persons fingers and the top disc or the toplocked-together bunch of discs may be conveniently and easily liftedfrom the remainder of the stack and out of the box, as shown in Fig. 10.In Fig. 14, the brush blanks 10 or bunches B are illustrated asalternately stacked in a similar box 20a with paper neck-bandstrips N,the barber first taking a neek-band-strip N from the box and, after thetonsorial operation, the deformable brush blank or hunch is availablyexposed for him to reiove for dusting off the hair clippings.

To shape a brush for use, a disc or locked-together bunch B of discs isdistorted into the shape of a cone in which the tongues, constitutingthe shredded peripheral portions of the discs, are bunched together inthe form of bristles of a brush and the center portion adjacent the tab14 or the flat cap 15 is gathered together and forms the handle of thebrush. One convenient way of deforming the discs into final brush shapeis illustrated in Figs. 10, '11, and 12. A person grasps the tab portion14 or the cap 15 between the fingers of one hand and then pulls thematerial between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand as shown inFig. ll. The brush in final form for use as shown in Fig. 12 is thusobtained, and as stated, the shredded portions of the discs are bunchedtogether and form the bristles of the brush and the central parts of thediscs are gathered together and constitute the handle of the brush.

As a modification, instead of providing discs of soft thin paper,fan-shaped pieces F, of a plurality of superimposed thin soft paper 25,may be provided as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 13. All of the layers ofthese pieces F are shredded for a distance radially inward from thecurved edge portion 23 of its periphery by slits, such as 26 and 27which may be alternately of different lengths, and the pieces are lockedtogether by turning over their corners 29, opposite the curved edgeportion 28, and punching the turned over ends 29 together and to theadjacent unshredded portions of the pieces F by one or more punching, asat 30.

In these bunches also an outermost layer on either side of the pieces Fmay be of heavier texture than the other layers of said pieces.Obviously the pieces F may be provided by cutting or die-stamping themfrom a plurality of superimposed discs, and, as shown, each fan shapedpiece F constitutes one-third of a circle but, if desired, these piecesmay be shaped to constitute one-fourth of a circle or any other desiredportion of a circle. These bunches of locked-together superimposedlayers may be conveniently stacked in a box, such as 20b in Fig. 13, andthree stacks of these each having the expanse of onethird of a fullcircle may be stacked in the box in circular arrangement as shown. Thesebunches of locked to gether sheets or layers may be readily and easilyremoved separately from the box by a person merely grasping the edgeportion 29 of the top bunch where the pieces are locked together by theone or more marks 30 and lifting the bunch from the container. Thesebunches may be deformed into final brush form by folding them onceortwice, as desired, between the thumb, the first and second finger of onehand in a general 'radial direction as indi-.

cated in Fig. 13. The formed brush will be substantially cone shapedwith the shredded peripheries of the bunches pieces gathered togetherand forming the bristles of the brush and the uncut portion of the bunchgathered together and forming the handle of the brush.

In the modifications, the slits or shredding extend approximatelyone-half the radius of the discs or in the fanshaped pieces,approximately one-half the distance from the curved edge to the apex.This depth of shredding and the plurality of bunched pieces yields agreatly improved and superior brush.

Although only disc shaped and fan shaped pieces of paper have beenillustrated in the drawings, it is obvious that shredded and lockedtogether flat pieces of soft thin paper of other shapes can be used aswell for the brushes.

From the above, the inexpensiveness of brushes constructed and formed inaccordance with this invention is readily apparent as is also theminimum amount of space required for their packaging, storage andtransporation. It is also apparent that brushes made in accordance withthe invention can be sanitarily packaged inexpensively and attractivelyand are so constructed that they can conveniently and easily be graspedand formed into final shape for use. Brushes formed in accordance withthis invention are very efiective in brushing and dusting hair ends andother particles from the necks and faces of patrons serviced in barbershops, beauty parlors and the like and the brushes are very convenientfor the operator to use and feel soft and comfortable to the patron.

It will thus be seen that the objects hereinbefore set forth may readilyand efficiently be attained when following the principles embodied bythe present invention; and since certain changes may be made in theabove article and different embodiments of the invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a disposable brush of the character described, a brush blankcomprising a group of superimposed substantially co-extensive flatcircular sheets of thin soft paper, having an exposed outermost sheet,each being radially shredded completely around its marginal pcripheraledge by slits extending inwardly towards i1. geometrical center adistance approximately half its radius to provide numerous bristles thattaper inwardly and lie in closely packed edge-to-edge relation, saidradial slits comprising at least two concentric groups of slitsalternately arranged but of dilferent lengths, the sho t slits, in onegroup, being of substantially the same length, and the longer slits, inthe other group, also being of substantially the same length, saidperipheral portion of each blank thereby providing relatively longnarrow tapering tongues of bristles characterized by different degreesof resilience and flexibility; and locking means securing said sheetstogether at approximately their common geometrical centers, saidshredded edges being bunchable together into the form of bunchedbrushing bristles with the unslit portions of the sheets, between Wherethey are locked together and the base of each inwardly extending slit,providing a brush handle; and said bristies and handles when so formedproviding a cone-shaped brush with said locking means at the apex of thecone.

2. A disposable brush as defined in claim 1, and further characterizedin that said exposed outermost sheet of said group of superimposed flatsheets of paper is of substantially heavier texture than the nextadjacent of said group of sheets in order to prevent adhering togetherof such groups when the same are placed in stacked relation.

3. A brush as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in that saidexposed outermost sheet is of approximately .003 pound, and the combinedWeight of the remaining sheets is also of approximately .003 pound.

4. A brush as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in that saidgroup of superimposed sheets constitutes approximately between 200 to400 bristles.

5. A brush as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in thatthere are present in said group about four sheets of said shreddedpaper, each of said sheets having approximately bristles therein.

6. A disposable brush as defined in claim 1, and further characterizedin that said locking means comprises a tab by which said flat shetsinitially may be lifted, as well as separated, from a next succeedinggroup when the same are in stacked relation.

7. In a brush as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in thatsaid locking means comprises interlocking tabs struck from theircenters, thereby locking the sheets together, said interlocking tabsproviding a gripping element by which said locked-together sheets may belifted, and said locked-together sheets being bunchable as a whole fromtheir centers, beginning at said tabs, to collect said shreddedperipheral portions into the form of bunched brushing bristles, andtogether the center portions together into the form of a brush handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,714,508 Keele May 28, 1929 1,757,853 Carbone May 6, 1930 1,767,313Salvucci June 24, 1930 1,836,103 Yutts Dec. 15, 1931 2,039,168 HorwittApr. 28, 1936 2,595,776 Downey May 6, 1952 2,597,772 Bongiovanni May 20,1952

